Christmas Card 2014

 Top 14 of ‘14

14. Kristin Produced/Directed/Choreographed Into the Woods at her school.

13. Connor began riding the “big boy” rides at Disney. (read more here and here) Test Track, Tower of Terror, Splash Mountain, Mine Train, Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Space Mountain in California

12. Connor and Caleb went as Captain Hook and Mr. Smee for Halloween. (read more here)

11. Tim was asked to join the Yolk Fellows as part of the Deacon Ministry at our church.

10. Kristin became Fine Arts Dept Head.

9. Connor officially learned to swim at 3. (see video here)

8. Our Friend Focused summer vacation to Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia. (read more here and here)

7. Our Spring Break Sledding Trip to Lynchburg. (read more here)

6. “Snow-venture” to Stone (Snow) Mountain. (read more here)

5. Our 2014 Disneyland Trip. (read more here and here)

4. Connor began Pre-K in August. (read more here)

3. Tim was promoted to HR Analyst at work.

2. Connor and Caleb performing on stage for the 2014 Ft. Lauderdale Christmas Pageant.  here)

1. The birth of Caleb Guise Petersen. (read more here)

Happy Birthday Jesus

 Wow!!! What a fabulous 2014 Ft. Lauderdale Christmas Pageant season! It was so interesting! In all of the years Tim and I have been going to our church I have never been able to participate because I'm usually in the middle of my own rehearsals at school and I can't "rehearsal live" at both places at the same time. The year Connor was baby Jesus we got a little glimpse of it's magnitude but it wasn't a very big commitment to make. This year having both boys actively involved was wonderful. You can read all about our outstanding program HERE.

 These sweet kiddos were our Happy Birthday Jesus singers. They took turns throughout the run of the season singing the special solo on stage. They each did such a great job! The audition process is just that, a process, and they came through each phase in stride and looked forward to each show.

 Act 1 is a spectacle of sight and sound comprised of contemporary Christmas music choreographed into swing, ballroom, and even tango dances. Yes, the stage even opens to reveal an ice skating rink.

Aunt Kaitlyn got to perform in the High School number this year which was  part of a skit called "The Star," hosted by Larson Nightly, or the even more famous, Adam Duckworth. Kaitlyn's number was super fast and extremely difficult and even included a human jump rope. She had fun!

Connor's "Happy Birthday Jesus" solo always came towards the end of the choir concert right before intermission. A beautiful ballet number preceded it and I tended to pray through that entire song knowing Connor was next. The pretty piano would begin and the lights would come up on Connor coming down the stairs holding Daddy's hand. Tim talks about what a great experience it was to be able to escort him on to the stage, and feels like it was a rite of passage. Daddy, Connor, and Adam would pray in the wings before entering the stage and it was a special moment for all of them.

Grandma Glenda was always a huge help for me with Caleb. I was at the church for more performances with Caleb than I was for Connor. Caleb played baby Jesus 3 to 4 times each weekend and Grandma was always there to help me get organized and prep the baby. Of course Ms. Crystal and Sarah did all the work, I'm just there to supervise. 

 Act 2 opens with a horse drawn chariot, yes a real horse, riding onto the stage declaring the census. Enter Mary riding a donkey to reveal a swollen belly and no room at the inn. The choir enters beautifully, coming down from the balcony stairs holding candles singing "Silent Night". At the climax of the song Joseph walks off stage after Mary to return with our sweet bundle of joy held high in the air for everyone to see. I love to compare it to "The Circle of Life" moment with Simba. It's so perfect that the audience is drawn into the scene and usually would erupt into applause. Not for Caleb, but for our Savior. It is such beautiful perspective! He came! We are saved by this precious babe that was laid to rest in a manger. The wise men come entering from different places inside the sanctuary and of course the crowd loves when the enormous camels appear. My favorite is the angels soaring above the audience on a specially created fly system. The monologue following is the epitome of "Mary Did You Know" and always gives me goosebumps. Then the lights dim and Caleb is returned to me, my own precious babe with a lifetime in front of him. Where will the Lord lead my boys? How will He direct their paths? How does He plan to use them? Lord, I pray they seek and follow You.

 We were so lucky that Great Grandma and Grandpa Hebebrand came down to witness the boys on stage too. Connor loved getting to see them during intermission. He also enjoyed all the other spectacles he got to see backstage. From the donkey to the soldiers it was always something new and exciting.

 

Our family was so blessed by this experience. I can only imagine the thousand of lives it touched of those that came to see it. What an amazing responsibility these performers have! What an honor it was to participate in. I am so proud of Connor and Caleb. I can only hope this is the beginning of watching them perform on stage. 

Happy Birthday Jesus

I'm so glad it's Christmas.

All the tinsel and lights

and the presents are nice

but the real gift is You.

Happy Birthday Jesus

I'm so glad it's Christmas.

All the carols and bells

make the holiday swell

and it's all about You.

Happy Birthday Jesus

Jesus I love You.

I love you Jesus.

Lots of "Firsts"

It has to be the season of life we are in right now. It's typical when you have a new baby. Everything is a "first". This past weekend our household encountered many firsts and all of them were very special. 

 Caleb's First trip to Disney World. In our family that's a milestone and we hit Hollywood Studios first.

 Mommy's First time riding Tower of Terror with the brave Connor boy, though his first time was earlier in the year while I was pregnant with Caleb (here). He was so excited when it was finished and kept saying "I did it! I did it!" "That was fun!" Upon asking him if he wanted to do it again though, he said "in five years."

 Caleb's First time seeing the lights!

 Caleb's First time encountering "Grandpa Claus"/"Christmas Claus". Santa of course was smitten with our tiny bundle and said our 5 week old certainly set a new record for him. After our pictures with him he wanted a better look at our guy and held him for quite some time more....Connor of course was right by his side showing off his little brother. He won't let him out of his sight. Super protective.

 First time riding in the front of the Mine Train, and Connor had his hands up the entire ride, BOTH times!!!

 Caleb's First Thanksgiving, which we celebrated with a delicious meal at Nine Dragons in China at Epcot. Super traditional!

 First time eating at the Grand Floridian with this crew. I had the most delicious sandwich of my life....I may have told the table I would eat it for every meal the rest of my life.

Connor's First time singing a solo on stage in front of 1,000+ people. His "Happy Birthday Jesus" debut took place for the Sunday matinee and he nailed it!!!! I may have bawled my eyes out the entire time I watched him. I just am in complete awe of his stage presence for a newly 4 year old, and how great his little voice sounded. His hours of practicing truly paid off. He has no clue what a big deal it is.

 Caleb's First time on stage. He's following in his big brother's footsteps as baby Jesus and doing a great job. He was on stage 4 times last week, and is scheduled for a bunch of performances this weekend.

 The "Happy Birthday Jesus" boy, and baby Jesus are brothers. I don't know if that's a first, but come on, that made me cry the first time it dawned on me. It doesn't get more special than that!

 It's was also Caleb's first time meeting his Uncle Casey this weekend, and it was perfect because Casey got to watch the boys perform as well. Great Grandpa and Grandma Guise also were in the audience to cheer on our littles. The whole thing has been surreal.

Connor has been battling a virus that broke him out into hives last night (another first) and we are praying for a quick recovery so he is ready for this weekend. His fever stays right around 100 and I'm ready for that to be over!! Poor buddy!! I'm worried about Caleb who hasn't been vaccinated yet, and who is a magnet for Connor's hands and kisses.

We did a lot this weekend including family Christmas pictures and picking out our tree. Life is going by quickly and I'm desperately trying to slow it down......and find time to sleep when they do, or when Grandma Glenda is around.